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Tony Grove - Bunchgrass, 2 September, 2024
Ten Cache Hikers enjoyed an unseasonably warm hike on Labor Day from the Tony Grove parking lot to Bunchgrass Creek, ending at Highway US-89. Hikers were Brent J., Brent L., Dave P, Dave W, Gorden, Jane, Joan, Susan, Teresa, and Kathy (leader).
Three cars left the Smith’s parking lot at 8:10, one was left at the Bunchgrass “slow vehicle turnout” parking area on US-89, and the remaining two cars got the last two available parking slots at the Tony Grove main lot. We began hiking at 9:15 on the White Pine Lake Trail and enjoyed easy going through meadows and nearly to the lake before turning west on the White Pine - Bunchgrass Canyon Trail. Purple asters and showy goldeneye were in bloom, and white “Dr. Seuss hair” flowers (hairy Clematis) were fruiting, complemented nicely by fall-colored red and orange wild geranium leaves.
Mountain bikers were out in force along the White Pine - Bunchgrass Canyon Trail, and we encountered them coming and going. Many were from a local high school biking club. Most bikers had human-powered machines, although we observed a couple illegally riding e-bikes on this non-motorized Forest trail. More than a few of those on human-powered bikes walked their rides up the steepest portions of the trail.
The group enjoyed lunch about 10:50 near a large beaver pond (the pond showed little evidence of recent use). Air temp at lunch was 79 degrees. Highlight of the hike after lunch was several sightings of an eagle soaring above the trail. The temperature continued to rise during the afternoon, and the final several miles felt like a hot slog to some in the group.
Drivers reached the car parked at the highway about 3:30, drove back to Tony Grove, and after picking up their riders, returned to Smith’s parking lot by 4:40.
Trip Summary:
- 10 Cache Hikers: Brent J., Brent L., Dave P, Dave W, Gorden, Jane, Joan, Susan, Teresa, and Kathy (leader)
- Drove 30 miles to Tony Grove, leaving a "shuttle" car at Bunchgrass Creek on the way
- Started hiking 9:15, lunch 10:50, at the Bunchgrass parking area 3:30 (hikers waited here while drivers retrieved their vehicles from Tony Grove for the return to Logan)
- Sunny skies, warm temperatures and calm winds
- Hiked over
11 miles with about 800 feet of ascent and 2500 feet
descending
Thanks
to Kathy for the narrative and photos, Jane and Dave P
for photos, and Dave W for photos and GPS data.
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| Near the beginning of our hike | |||
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| Pack goats on their way to Tony Grove | |||
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| We turned west on the White Pine-Bunchgrass Canyon Trail | |||
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| Lunch near a
beaver pond |
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| Beaver no
longer used the pond, as evidenced by the clear
water and sun-bleached wood of the dam |
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| Cache Hikers,
on the trail |
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| Trout swimming in the beaver pond |
Monkey flower in a moist area by the
pond |
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| Yarrow | |||
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Our GPS track shows 11.1 miles
with
about 800 feet of ascent and
2500 feet of descent.
You can look at our route using Google
Earth or download our GPS
file.
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